College Knowledge
Improved Reading, Writing, and Study Skills
English 96 + 98 or 99
Bldg. 2-215, 10:30 - 12:30
Instructors: Alexis Nelson, Ph.D. Jan Swinton, M.A.
Offices: Bldg. 5-119A Phone: 533-3588 Bldg. 5-158 Phone: 533-3603
E-mails:
Office Hours: 9 – 9:30 daily and afternoons by appointment
afternoons by appointment
This course is structured around four questions:
· Where do I come from and how has it shaped me?
· Where do I want to be in 5 years? in 10 years?
· How will what I learn help me move myself in that direction?
· What resources are available to help me move toward my goals?
Our integrated reading and writing course rests on one idea: students learn well when they connect with each other, with the subjects they study, with the world beyond the classroom, and with their own learning processes. Because we are exploring the themes of the course as a community, you will be working closely with other students as well as faculty and benefiting from their perspectives.
Required Books and Materials:
Skip Downing. On Course, 4th edition
Laurie G. Kirzner and Stephen R. Mandell. The Pocket Handbook, 2nd edition
Irene Gut Opdyke. In My Hands
Plato. The Trial and Death of Socrates
Jan Swinton and William Agopsowicz. Read and Respond (chapters 1-2—handout)
A three-ring binder with loose-leaf, college-ruled white paper
6 subject dividers for the binder
A pee-chee folder
Passionately Suggested:
A hardbound, desk-size college dictionary
100 Things Every College Freshman Ought to Know
Community Colleges of Spokane Catalogue
2004-2005 Monthly Planner (available in SFCC Bookstore, but any monthly planner works)
Course Objectives:
At the end of the quarter, you should be able . . .
· To read for pleasure and talk about books;
· To identify main ideas and major details in your reading;
· To summarize accurately;
· To take useful lecture notes, to take tests confidently, and to read textbooks effectively;
· To write focused paragraphs developed with ample detail;
· To craft essays and supplement the argument using textual support;
· To see connections between yourself and the world;
· To work effectively as a member of a group; and
· To act deliberately and responsibly in achieving your goals.
COURSE Information
Attendance: Since discussions and practice are essential to learning, we expect you to attend every class for the entire period (2 hours). If for any reason you miss a class, it is your responsibility to get the information and assignments from a classmate. What you cannot get from a classmate is your own irreplaceable involvement in the learning process. This chart tells you how your attendance will figure in your final grade.
Absences Points Absences Points
0 110 8-9 70
1-3 100 10 60
4-5 90 >10 0
6-7 80 >15 required with-
drawal or failure
Preparation: Generally, you will be expected to demonstrate that you are ready to participate in class. Often at the end of the day we will give you an assignment; you should write your assignment on loose-leaf paper or in an assignment book in dark blue or black ink.
Organization: You will need a 3-ring binder divided into 6 sections, which will help you organize materials for current and future use. Notice that these are organized by topic, not by the date they are given out! Mark your dividers as follows: Course Information & Self-Assessment, Homework, Learning Logs, Reading & Study Strategies, Writing, and Vocabulary.
Book Club Selections (you’ll choose one):
Non-Fiction
B. Ehrenreich. Nickel and Dimed
J. Kozol. Amazing Grace: The Lives of Children
J. McBride. The Color of Water
Fiction
Ann Patchett. Bel Canto
Chuck Palahniuk. Fight Club
Mary Shelley. Frankenstein
A. M. Smith. The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency
Learning Logs:. These assignments, due weekly, help you develop a useful reading process for various kinds of college reading. By practicing the steps outlined in class, you will develop pre-reading strategies, methods to improve your comprehension while reading, and techniques to recall what you have read.
Assignments and Grading: The numbers below represent approximations of the points available in each area:
Daily assignments and quizzes 150
Organized notebook 50
Typed essays (100 points each) 400
Vocabulary flashcards & quizzes 100
Study Skills assignments & projects 100
Integrated Portfolio 100
Attendance 100
TOTAL 1000
You need to create the habit of turning your work in on time. All assignments are due at the beginning of the period; late assignments will be accepted at the start of the next class period for half credit. After that time, they earn no points. If you think you will be absent on the date an assignment is due, turn it in early, email it or send it in with a friend.
Percentage, Letter, and Decimal Grade Equivalents
Your quarter grade will be based on a percentage derived from the total points you earn divided by the total possible points.
95 - 100% A 4.0
90 - 94% A- 3.7
87 - 89% B+ 3.3
83 - 86% B 3.0
80 - 82% B- 2.7
77 - 79% C+ 2.3
73 - 76% C 2.0
70 - 72% C- 1.7
67 - 69% D+ 1.3
63 - 66% D 1.0
60 - 62% D- .7
00 - 59% F 0.0
Questions and Notes: